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The following is a press release received Monday from the Seymour first selectman’s office concerning charter revisions on Tuesday’s ballot:

Tomorrow, Seymour voters will head to the polls and find six questions to answer on the ballot.  The first four questions deal with charter revisions and the last two questions are non-binding advisory questions to determine if further charter revision may be advised in the future.

First Selectman W. Kurt Miller is thankful for the time the charter revision commission put in over the last nine months.  ‘This was a long and involved process and everyone would appreciate residents voting on the questions,’ he said. 

In the recent past charter revisions were not completed due to low voter participation.  ‘We wanted to make sure people knew there are charter revisions on the ballot so we have utilized the press and made community announcement phone calls,’ Kurt said, ‘We want people to vote this time around.’

The charter revisions are summarized into the following four yes or no questions:

1. Shall the Seymour Town Charter be amended as follows: (1) to change the powers and duties of various boards, (2) to change the time within which vacancies in elected offices are to be filled, (3) to change the nature and manner of certain appointments to boards and offices, (4) to create a Culture and Arts Commission, and (5) to define the duties of the Human Resources Manager?
2. Shall the Seymour Town Charter be amended to clarify the annual Town Meeting and budget process, including quorum requirements and the provision for adoption of a budget following referendum?
3. Shall the Seymour Town Charter be amended to change the Board of Planning and Zoning regular members from an appointed to an elected board?
4. Shall the Seymour Town Charter be amended to correct grammar, spelling, terminology, statutory references, and outdated provisions in the Town Charter, and to make other technical changes as recommended by the Charter Revision Commission?

Residents are encouraged to view the summary document for these questions by visiting http://www.seymourct.org/government.aspx  A red-lined version of the full charter is also found on the town website.   Hard copies are also available at Town Hall in the Town Clerk’s Office, at the Senior Center at 20 Pine Street, and at Seymour Public Library.  

The non-binding advisory questions are yes or no opinion questions:

1. Shall the next Charter Revision Commission consider a town manager form of government?
2. Shall the next Charter Revision Commission consider the return to a single vote process for approval of the General Town and Education budgets?

The information gained from questions 5 & 6 will help future charter revision commissions. 

If anyone has additional questions about the proposed changes they can call the First Selectman’s Office at 203-888-2511.

Residents are encouraged to cast an informed vote on the proposed charter revisions.

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DERBY — “Holiday in Bloom,” an event at the Osborne Homestead Museum, will showcase, in each room of the home, a seasonal plant that is connected to holiday folklore and tradition, according to a press release Monday.

The featured plants will include poinsettia, pine, Christmas rose, laurel, rosemary/herbs, holly, ivy, mistletoe and pomegranate.

 The museum was the home of conservationist, businesswoman and philanthropist, Frances Osborne Kellogg, who lived in the house her entire life, from 1876 to 1956. 

 As they have done for more than 20 years, volunteers create the holiday decorations.  The volunteers represent the Ansonia Garden Club, Olde Ripton Garden Club, the Garden Club of Orange, Naugatuck Garden Club, Roxbury/Bridgewater Garden Club, Derby Garden Society, the Pomperaug Valley Garden Club, the Oxford Garden Club and Ye Olde Kellogg Garden Society.

 The exhibit will be open from Nov. 23 through Dec. 16, Thursday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for guided tours of the homestead. 

On Friday evenings, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 and 14, the museum will present “twilight tours,” highlighting the special glow of the decorations from 4 to 6:30 p.m. 

Group tours for adults and youth programs are also available. Contact (203) 734-2513 if you wish to schedule a group of eight or more visitors. 

 The Osborne Homestead Museum exhibits the fine art and antiques of Frances Osborne Kellogg.  There is no admission fee but donations are accepted. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Osborne Homestead Museum is located at 500 Hawthorne Ave.

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… according to the mailers I’ve received from proponents/opponents of Bridgeport’s key charter revision question on tomorrow’s ballot.

Here’s an ad featuring a beaming President beside Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch sent out last month by the folks who want residents to vote “yes” for an appointed ed board:

And here’s the mailer circulated over the weekend with a smiling First Lady:

Obviously these aren’t official White House endorsements and the two sides have taken it upon themselves to use the First Couple’s images to court supporters.

So confusing. At least we know that Obama, a Democrat, supports Republican Linda McMahon for U.S. Senate in Connecticut. Wait. What? I thought the President was all in for Democrat Chris Murphy…